Cruisers fall twice at home as Rainier, Hudson Bay capitalize on runs
- Skip Smith
- 6 hours ago
- 4 min read
What began as a dominant opening stretch and ended with a late rally fell just short for the Eatonville Cruisers on Monday night, as they dropped a non league matchup to the Rainier Mountaineers, 67-59, at Rainier Connect Arena inside Eatonville High School.
The loss, followed later in the week by another non league setback to Hudson Bay, left Eatonville searching for consistency after flashes of strong play on both ends of the floor.
Monday’s contest against Rainier opened in stunning fashion for the Cruisers. Eatonville raced out to an 18-0 lead, overwhelming the Mountaineers with pressure defense and quick scoring opportunities. Rainier did not score for the first five minutes of the game, struggling to find clean looks against an Eatonville defense that jumped passing lanes and contested nearly every shot.
Senior guard Amari Samuel set the tone early. Samuel scored 14 points in the opening quarter alone, attacking off the dribble and finishing through contact while also knocking down shots from the perimeter. His scoring spree helped Eatonville maintain control even after Rainier began to settle in.
The Mountaineers finally answered with a 10-3 run late in the first quarter, cutting into the deficit and finding some rhythm offensively. Still, Eatonville closed the period ahead 19-10, with Samuel accounting for more than two thirds of the Cruisers’ points.
Momentum shifted quickly in the second quarter. Rainier opened the period with a 13-0 run, flipping the game on its head and surging to a 23-19 lead. Eatonville went several possessions without a basket during the stretch, while Rainier capitalized on turnovers and second chance opportunities.
From there, the game turned into a back and forth battle. Both teams traded baskets and defensive stops as the pace slowed. Eatonville found points from multiple players, while Rainier relied on steady perimeter shooting to maintain a slim edge.
With under a minute remaining in the half and Eatonville trailing 29-26, Colton Herbrand came up with a timely shot. The senior guard drilled a three pointer from the corner to tie the game at 29 apiece, bringing the home crowd back to life.
Moments later, Jeremy Osborn jumped an inbounds pass and gave Eatonville a chance to take the lead into the locker room. Osborn’s three point attempt rattled out, however, and the teams went into halftime tied 29-29.
After the break, the game tilted decisively in Rainier’s favor. Eatonville, which had scored in double figures in each of the first two quarters, struggled mightily to generate offense. Shots that had fallen earlier came up short, and the Cruisers had difficulty getting into the paint against a more physical Mountaineer defense.
Rainier, meanwhile, found its groove. The Mountaineers poured in 21 points in the third quarter, stretching the lead behind confident ball movement and strong finishing at the rim. Eatonville managed just seven points in the period, falling behind 50-36 heading into the final quarter.
To their credit, the Cruisers did not fold. Eatonville rediscovered its offense in the fourth, outscoring Rainier 23-17 over the final eight minutes. Samuel continued to lead the charge, while Eatonville’s defense forced several late turnovers.
The comeback bid fell short, though, as Rainier made enough free throws and key shots down the stretch to secure the 67-59 win.
Samuel finished with a game high 27 points to go along with three rebounds and six steals. Colton Herbrand added nine points, two rebounds and five steals. Ryder Herbrand chipped in seven points and four rebounds. Nash Sherrard had a strong night on the glass with 11 rebounds to go with four points. Jake Brannon finished with four points and five rebounds, while Osborn added four points and three rebounds.
Eatonville was back on the same floor Saturday afternoon hosting Hudson Bay in another non league contest, but early mistakes again proved costly.
The Cruisers turned the ball over on their first four possessions, allowing the Eagles to jump out to a 9-0 lead. Hudson Bay took advantage of the early miscues and never trailed, building a double digit lead before Eatonville found its footing.
Late in the first quarter, the Cruisers showed signs of life. Eatonville closed the period on a 7-0 run, cutting the deficit to four points, but still trailed 20-16 after one.
Hudson Bay regained control in the second quarter. The Eagles extended their lead back into double figures, outscoring Eatonville 19-12 in the period. Despite solid individual efforts from the Cruisers, Hudson Bay’s depth and efficiency proved difficult to match. The Eagles took a 39-28 lead into halftime.
Any hopes of a second half turnaround were quickly challenged. Coming out of the break, Hudson Bay went on an 8-2 run to push the lead further, ending the third quarter ahead 56-42.
Eatonville again showed resilience in the fourth quarter. The Cruisers outscored Hudson Bay 23-16 over the final period, applying pressure and pushing the tempo in an effort to erase the deficit. The rally came too late, however, and Eatonville fell 75-65.
Samuel led the Cruisers with 25 points, continuing his strong scoring stretch. Osborn added 16 points, while Ryder Herbrand finished with 10. Carter Taylor scored six points, Colton Herbrand added four, and Sherrard chipped in four.
Despite the back to back losses, Eatonville remains focused on improving as the season progresses. The Cruisers will look to snap a two game losing streak Tuesday night when they host the Vashon Pirates in a non league matchup scheduled for 7 p.m. Eatonville will then close out the week Friday by hosting the league leading Franklin Pierce Cardinals, a test that will offer another opportunity to measure growth against a top opponent.
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